Blueberry plant named ‘Blue Ribbon’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ is provided. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest market. The variety produces a large berry with exceptional flavor and crunch. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is an early to mid-season variety, producing high yields of excellent quality fruit, with good post-harvest shelf life. The plant is vigorous with a semi-upright to spreading growth habit, and an estimated chilling requirement of 800-1000 hours.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species:

Family—Ericaceae

Genus—Vaccinium

Species—corymbosum hybrid

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘Blue Ribbon’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMNT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid)and referred to as ‘Blue Ribbon’, also referred to as ‘ZF05-009’, asherein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ was selected in Lowell,Oreg. in 2005. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial variety intended for thehand harvest market. The variety produces a large berry with exceptionalflavor and crunch. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is an early to mid-season variety,ripening after Duke but before Draper (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103), andproducing high yields of excellent quality fruit with good post-harvestshelf life. The plant is vigorous with a semi-upright to spreading,growth habit, and an estimated chilling requirement of 800-1000 hours.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a 2002controlled cross pollination of ‘G344’ (pollen parent, unpatented) by‘Toro’ (female parent, unpatented). The seedling was first selected froma high density field planting in the summer of 2005 and has been plantedin replicated trials since 2008.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Duke’ in that‘Blue Ribbon’ ripens 1 to 2 weeks later, has higher yields, and firmerfruit.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Draper’ in that‘Blue Ribbon’ ripens 1 to 2 weeks earlier, has higher yields, and betterflavor.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ has maintained itsdistinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexualpropagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproducedthrough softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones arephenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., andare determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberryplant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’:

-   -   1. Large fruit with exceptional flavor and crunch.    -   2. Vigorous plant with long, arching branches and a        semi-upright, to spreading growth habit    -   3. High yields

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon’.The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon’, highlightingthe plant's semi-upright to spreading growth habit and vigorous nature.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Blue Ribbon’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the originalselection. Dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics areapproximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, andthe descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg.Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by LeatriceEiseman and Lawrence Herbert; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, NewYork, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colorsin the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—Corymbosum hybrid.        -   d. Common name.—Northern Highbush.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Toro’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘G344’ (unpatented).-   Market class: ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial blueberry variety    intended for the hand harvest market.

PLANT

-   Plant size: Medium.    -   -   a. Height of plant.—Average of 34 inches on 3 year old            plants.        -   b. Canopy diameter.—Average of 41 inches on 3 year old            plants.-   Growth habit: Semi-upright to spreading with long, arching branches.-   Plant vigor: Vigorous.-   Twigginess: Low.-   Evergreenness: Semi-deciduous in Lowell, Oreg.-   Suckering: Low.-   Chilling requirement: Approximately 800-1000 hours.-   Cold hardiness: Approximately USDA zones 4-7.-   Productivity: In Lowell, Oreg.:    -   -   a. 2 year old plant.—8.26 lbs per plant, compared to 4.22            lbs per plant on Duke plants of the same age.        -   b. 3 year old plants.—6.88 lbs per plant, compared to 4.14            lbs per plant on Duke plants of the same age.-   Propagation: Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.-   Disease and pest resistance/susceptibility:    -   -   a. Root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi).—Does not appear to be            overly susceptible.        -   b. Stem blight (Botryosphaeria spp).—Undetermined.        -   c. Phomopsis twig blight (Phomopsis vaccinii).—Does not            appear to be overly susceptible.        -   d. Botryosphaeria stem canker (Botryosphaeria            corticis).—Undetermined.        -   e. Bacterial cane canker (Pseudomonas syringae).—Does not            appear to be overly susceptible.        -   f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea).—Does not appear to be            overly susceptible.        -   g. Leaf spot (Septoria spp.).—Does not appear to be overly            susceptible.        -   h. Leaf rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii).—Does not appear to be            overly susceptible.        -   i. Bud mites (Acalatus vaccinii).—Undetermined.-   Disease survival: Good.

TRUNK AND BRANCHES

-   Texture:    -   -   a. Surface texture new wood.—Smooth.        -   b. Surface texture 1 yr wood.—Smooth.        -   c. Surface texture 3 yr wood.—Rough.-   Color:    -   -   a. Color new wood.—Pantone color Oasis 16-0540 and Barn Red            18-1531.        -   b. Color rough bark 1 yr.—Pantone color Mineral Red 17-1537            and Oasis 16-0540.        -   c. Color rough bark 3 yr.—Pantone color Mineral Red 17-1537,            Smoke Gray 14-1209, and Brush 16-1317.

FOLIAGE

-   Internode length: Average of 16.17 mm.-   Leaf dimensions:    -   -   a. Leaf length.—Average of 58.6 mm.        -   b. Leaf width.—Average of 35.6 mm.-   Leaf shape: Broadly elliptical.-   Leaf margin: Entire.-   Leaf color:    -   -   a. Leaf color upper leaf surface.—Pantone color Artichoke            Green 18-0125.        -   b. Leaf color lower leaf surface.—Pantone color Epsom            17-0324.-   Fall foliage color: ‘Blue Ribbon’ is highly evergreen and most    leaves are retained without significant color change before frosts    cause leaf drop. Most leaves darken from Artichoke Green 18-0125 to    Pantone Thyme 19-039 without significant fall color change but some    turn to Pantone Faded Rose 18-1629 before leaf drop.-   Pubescence:    -   -   a. Upper leaf surface.—Absent.        -   b. Lower leaf surface.—Absent.        -   c. Leaf margins.—Absent.-   Petiole:    -   -   a. Length.—Average of 4.38 mm.        -   b. Color.—Pantone color Sweet Pea 15-0531.        -   c. Surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

-   Flower arrangement: Alternate arrangement.-   Fragrance: Sweet, faint.-   Anther:    -   -   a. Anther length.—Average of 3.98 mm.        -   b. Anther color.—Pantone color Gold Earth 15-1234.-   Immature flower color: Pantone color Holly Berry 17-1633 and Pastel    Parchment 11-0603.-   Pedicel:    -   -   a. Pedicel length flower.—Average of 4.48 mm.        -   b. Pedicel color.—Pantone color Spinach Green 16-0439, and            Mauve Orchid 16-2111.-   Peduncle:    -   -   a. Peduncle length flower.—Variable, average of 15.99 mm.        -   b. Peduncle color.—Pantone color Green Oasis 15-0538 and            Mauve Orchid 16-2111.-   Flower shape: Cylindrical to urceolate.-   Pollen:    -   -   a. Pollen staining.—Approximately 85% viable, Staining with            2% acetocarmine dye.        -   b. Pollen abundance.—Medium pollen shed.        -   c. Pollen color.—Pantone color Cornsilk 13-0932.-   Flower length: Average of 10.31 mm.-   Corolla:    -   -   a. Corolla length.—Average of 8.21 mm.        -   b. Corolla diameter.—Average of 6.91 mm.        -   c. Corolla color.—Pantone color Snow White 11-0602.        -   d. Corolla texture.—Smooth.        -   e. Corolla aperature.—Average of 5.09 mm.-   Style length: Average of 7.90 mm.-   Calyx:    -   -   a. Calyx diameter.—Average of 5.54 mm.        -   b. Calyx surface.—Smooth.        -   c. Calyx color.—Pantone color Water cress 17-0220. Calyx            Lobes — Spinach Green 16-0439 and Faded Rose 18-1629.-   Pistil color: Pantone color Spinach Green 16-0439.-   Flowering period: Flowers from the end of April through the end of    May in Lowell, Oreg.-   Flowering cluster: Moderately Loose.-   Number of flowers: Average of 6 to 7 flowers per cluster.-   Stigma location: Even with corolla to 0.08 mm below lip of corolla,    on average.-   Self-compatibility: Good — on average 86% of self-pollinated flowers    reach maturity.-   Precocity: Flower bud break occurs prior to vegetative bud break.    Flowers persist during initial vegetative growth period.-   Average inflorescence size: 30.78 mm.

FRUIT

-   Mean harvest date: July 21.-   Mean date last pick: August 22.-   Calyx:    -   -   a. Calyx aperture.—Average of 5.54 mm.        -   b. Calyx lobes.—5 lobes, not distinct.        -   c. Calyx depth.—Average of 1.09 mm.-   Berry cluster: Moderately loose.-   Berry pedicel:    -   -   a. Length.—Average of 8.99 mm.        -   b. Surface texture.—Smooth.-   Berry peduncle:    -   -   a. Length.—Average of 24.70 mm.        -   b. Surface texture.—Smooth.-   Berries per cluster: Average of 5 to 7.-   Berry detachment: Moderately easy.-   Berry weight: Average berry weight of 2.4 g, compared to Duke plants    of the same age, which have an average berry weight of 2.4 g.-   Berry height: Average of 13.04 mm.-   Berry width: Average of 17.40 mm.-   Berry shape: Oblate, spherical-   Berry color:    -   -   a. Immature berry color.—Pantone color Green Olive 17-0535.        -   b. Berry skin color on plant.—Pantone color Blue Ice            17-3922.        -   c. Berry skin color after harvest.—Pantone color Velvet            Morning 18-3927.        -   d. Berry skin color after polishing.—Pantone color Shale            19-3903.-   Berry Wax: Medium wax/Moderately persistent.-   Berry flesh color: Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532.-   Pedicel scar: Small and dry, average of 2.54 mm inches in diameter.-   Berry firmness: Very good. Average berry firmness measurement for    ‘Blue Ribbon’ is 196 g/mm of deflection, compared to Duke plants    harvested on the same day, which have an average of 148 g/mm of    delfection as measured by a Firmtech fruit firmness machine.-   Berry flavor: Sweet.-   Berry texture: Smooth.

SEEDS

-   Seed color: Pantone color Marron 18-1415.-   Seed length: Average of 1.65 mm.-   Seed width : Average of 1 mm.-   Seed weight: Average of 0.5 mg.-   Seeds per berry: Average of 36 seeds per berry.

TABLE 1 DISTINGUISHING FEATURES FROM PARENTS Characteristic(s) Describethe Describe the Name in which the expression of expression of ofcandidate variety the characteristic the characteristic parent differsfrom the parent for the parent for ‘Blue Ribbon’ G344 Growth habitSemi-upright spreading G344 Length of lateral shoots Medium Very longToro Ripening time Medium early Toro Fruit firmness Firm soft

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberryplant named ‘Blue Ribbon’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.